Cork, October 30: At the Central Criminal Court in Ireland’s Cork, Justice Mary Ellen Ring sentenced a 26-year-old man to four and a half years in prison for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting his younger cousin saying that ‘young relatives are not sex toys’. The man, who pleaded guilty to the charges, abused his cousin over a four-year period, starting when she was six and he was fifteen. Justice Ring noted the man’s early exposure to pornography, which, according to defence arguments, distorted his perception of relationships, leading him to view his cousin as a “human equivalent of a blow-up sex doll.”

Justice Ring warned that the accessibility of pornography can severely impact young people, urging parents to be vigilant, as children can now access explicit content easily online, reported Irishexaminer. She said that young relatives are “not sex toys” for experimentation and expressed concern over parents who might find themselves “in a court with a son or daughter who has done the unthinkable.” UK: 2 Men Rape and Kill Young Father After Failing To Find Partner for ‘Threesome’, Record Videos of Sex Assault; Jailed for Life.

The now 16-year-old victim read a powerful impact statement, detailing the trauma she endures, including nightmares and questioning whether reporting the abuse was the right decision. However, she affirmed the importance of her decision, saying “six-year-old me deserves justice.” Raped 50 Times, Exposed to Sex at the Age of 6: UK Woman Narrates Her Story of Sexual Abuse in Osho’s Cult.

The court heard that the abuse occurred around fifty times, with incidents taking place at both the victim’s and the accused’s homes while he babysat her. Due to his guilty plea and expressed remorse, Justice Ring suspended the final year of the sentence.

Upon release, the accused must follow all Probation and Welfare Service directives and is strictly prohibited from any direct or indirect contact with his young cousin.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 30, 2024 08:52 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).